UCU Digital Institutional Repository(UCUDIR)
Welcome to the Uganda Christian University Digital Institutional Repositoy (UCUDIR). This is the University's official Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of UCU. This growing collection of research includes peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, working papers, theses, and more.
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Recent Submissions
Information Sources, Gender and Risk Perceptions Understanding Health Behavior in Times of Crisis
(A Journal of the East Africa Communication Association, 2025-08) Samuel Kazibwe; Angela Napakol
The purpose of this research was to establish whether gender differences influenced the health seeking behavior of Ugandans during the peak of the COVID – 19 Pandemic. The Health Belief Model was used as the theoretical framework. The study used survey method, specifically online and physical questionnaires to collect data. For the online questionnaires, Google Forms were developed and shared through email, on WhatsApp groups and on Facebook. Contrary to the existing literature, the paper discovered that the health behaviors of respondents during the COVID – 19 crises in Uganda were not strictly gendered. Previous research has frequently characterized gendered health behaviors in binary terms, casting women as health-conscious and risk-averse, and men as risk-prone and disengaged. However, the data from this study reveal a more intricate and context-dependent pattern. For instance, both female and male respondents largely rejected conspiracy theories regarding vaccine safety and COVID-19 mortality, indicating a shared skepticism toward misinformation and a collective inclination toward evidence-based interpretations of the pandemic. In sum, although gender continues to play a salient role in shaping health-seeking behavior, particularly in the face of novel health risks, this study underscores that these behaviors cannot be solely or uniformly attributed to gender.
Application of Cadherin cRNA Probes in Brains of Alzheimer’s Disease
(Springer Nature, 2024-03-17) Zhou He; Du Shijia; Fred Gendi; LI Haoyue; Fu Jia; Chang Cheng
The cadherin superfamily molecules, functioning as cell adhesion molecules, are recognized to
play roles in both physiological and pathological processes. The cadherin-based adherent
junction (CAJ) is believed to interact with presenilin-1 (PS-1), suggesting that disruptions in
CAJ structures might contribute to neurodegeneration, potentially leading to Alzheimer’s
Disease (AD). Yet, the specific expression patterns of cadherin superfamily mRNA remain
somewhat ambiguous. This research utilizes in situ Hybridization (ISH) to examine the
expression and localization of cadherin mRNA in AD mouse model brains. Long cRNA probes
targeting cadherin revealed endogenous mRNA expression in brain sections. Interestingly, senile
plaques in the AD mouse brain are also bound to these probes. This binding, however, may not
exclusively denote cadherin mRNA, as ISH detected both antisense and sense cRNA probes. Our
data suggests that while antisense cRNA probes effectively detect cadherin mRNA expression in
AD brain cells, their association with senile plaques might not specifically signify cadherin
mRNA expression.
Treadmill Exercise Improves Brain Energy Metabolism, Motor, and Cognitive Functions in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Mice Model
(Research Square, 2022-08-24) Feifei Pei; Fred Gendi; Yuan Wang; Haoyue Li; Shijia Du; Susu Cui; Jia Fu; Cheng Chang
More evidence shows that the brain energy demands are enormous. This study aimed to examine the metabolism changes in the brain of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) mice model and to evaluate how treadmill exercise enhances brain metabolism. We used unilateral carotid common artery ligation mice model to simulate the clinical HIE patients. Several behavior tests were used to evaluate the motor and cognitive function impairment, western blot and immunofluorescence were used to assess the metabolism related protein changes in the different groups. Meanwhile, the HIE mice models were randomly divided into exercise training group (HIE-T) which were subjected to four weeks of treadmill exercise training and non-exercise training group (HIE-NT). The results revealed that there was decreased expression of glucose transporters GLUTs in HIE and an enhanced expression of monocarboxylate transporters MCTs, which is an important part of energy metabolism adaptation. After the period of treadmill exercise training, the expression of GLUT1 as well as MCT1 increased in the motor cortex of HIE mice model. Moreover, the mitochondrial cristae and edges were clear and intact under Transmission electron microscope compared with HIE-NT group. This suggests that increased brain energy attributed to treadmill exercise training shows promising therapeutic potential for HIE.
Mitochondrial Proteins Unveil the Mechanism by Which Physical Exercise Ameliorates Memory, Learning and Motor Activity in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Rat Model
(MDPI, 2022-04-11) Fred Gendi; Feifei Pei; Yuan Wang; Haoye Li; Jia Fu; Cheng Chang
Background: Physical exercise has been shown to improve cognitive and motor functions,
promoting neurogenesis and demonstrating therapeutic benefits in neurodegenerative disorders.
Nonetheless, it is crucial to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which this occurs.
The study aimed to investigate and evaluate the effect of swimming exercise on the changes of
mitochondrial proteins in the brains of rats with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods: the vertical pole and Morris water maze tests were used to assess the animals’ motor and
cognitive functions, and western blot and immunofluorescence of brain tissue were used to assess
the biomarkers of mitochondrial apoptosis and cristae stability in response to exercise training.
Four groups of rats were used: (1) sham sedentary group (SHAM, NT), (2) sham exercise training
group (SHAM, T) (3) hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy sedentary group (HIE, NT), and (4) hypoxic
ischemic encephalopathy exercise training group (HIE, T). Results: animals with HIE showed motor
and cognitive deficits, as well as increased apoptotic protein expression. Exercise, on the other hand,
improved motor and cognitive functions while also suppressing the expression of apoptotic proteins.
Conclusions: By stabilizing the mitochondrial cristae and suppressing the apoptotic cascade, physical
exercise provided neuroprotection in hypoxic ischemia-induced brain injury.
Health Facility readiness to accomodate physically disabled expectant women in soroti city
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-09-12) Gorreti Aanyu
Introduction:
The care for disabled people especially the disabled expectant mothers is a very big challenge in most health facilities in Uganda today. The readiness to accommodate the physically disabled people in most health care facilities especially in the public facilities has continued to pose a challenge for both the medical personnel and the caretakers of the disabled beneficiaries of these services. This study aims at assessing the health facilities’ readiness to accommodate physically disabled expectant women in Soroti City.
Methods:
This was qualitative research with phenomenological study design and three methods for data collection were used.
(1). In-depth interviews involving 10 midwives from 10 health facilities within Soroti City.
(2). Feedback sessions from 60 physically disabled expectant mothers on the services acquired from the various health centres.
(3). Observations of both on-going activities within the health facilities where the physically disabled expectant mothers receive services from and review of the existing records and data collection books. All these techniques were used in the data collection process for both the primary and secondary data.
Results: The findings from 60 respondents and the 10 midwives as the sample from the total target population in the health facilities revealed greater insights into the readiness of these facilities to accommodate these physically disabled expectant women in Soroti City. More specifically, the research identified four main factors/challenges that influence the ability for the facilities to accommodate these physically disabled expectant women including: poor physical accessibility, language barrier, negative attitudes of health workers and long queues at the health facilities. The midwives also experience a lot challenges when providing care to physically disabled expectant women especially in the provision of ANC, Labour, Emergencies, Post-natal, and mobility within the facility. These challenges include: language barrier, poor attitude of the women, poor response to post antenatal services, shortage of assistance devices such as wheel chairs, crutches, and beds that do not support them in delivery.
Conclusion: The health facilities are ready to accommodate disable expectant women to a small/limited extent. The study therefore recommends that in order for physically disabled expectant women with disabilities to enjoy their rights, there is need for certain measures to be put in place which include: awareness on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and disability, improving physical access to medical facilities, staff development among medical personnel, and adapting materials to fit persons with disabilities.